Working Together

The other morning I was enjoying my morning cereal, when I looked at the box and noticed there was a free comic book inside. Always enjoying a good read with breakfast- and who doesn't like digging for the prize in a cereal box- I pulled it out and started to read. As usual, the super heroes worked together to defeat the bad guy and all was right with the world. Fast-forward a little...I was reading the chapter on Strength-Based Leadership in The Innovator's Mindset and I was struck by the similarities between what the superheroes did to defeat evil and what good leaders do to move their people forward. They focus on the strengths of those around them. This allows people to shine and contribute, to the greater good of the group. People want to move forward. It is too much effort to always feel like you are trying to play catch up. "Leaders are meant to unleash talent by bringing their people's strengths to life, not ignoring them" (Couros, p 127).

Shared Beginnings

I usually do not consider myself an "outside of the box" thinker. That's not to say I do not come up with a great idea once in a while. As a librarian, I consider myself more of a "middle man" between information and those who use it. I enjoy reading blogs, Twitter and the couple of curated articles that come my way. From here, I can pass things on to teachers who I think would benefit from the information. I guess I'm hoping they take it and do something amazing with it.

Once in a while I get to be a part of some pretty awesome opportunities. Recently my district has started a blended learning cohort and two of my teachers are in the group. After some initial training, they were left on their own to try what they learned. I went through the training and have been there to support in any way I can but both pretty much ran with it.

What is really great to see, while both teachers are completely different in years of experience and technology comfort level, both have done a wonderful job in creating an awesome learning environment within their classrooms. They continue to do it everyday. The younger teacher has transformed her classroom to a flipped classroom and has commented that months ago, she never thought incorporating this much technology into her class would be easy but as she has done it, she could never go back. The older teacher, while not as tech savvy, decided to do this because she knew it was best for her students.

 I think both of these teachers are an example of the innovator's mindset. Both felt that something wasn't right in the classroom and have taken steps to improve it. Without risk there can be no reward. Currently, their students are receiving all the benefits.

Change and do something amazing

Mention the word change and it can bring on different emotions. If I refer to something costing some "pocket change", a person may have a sense of relief that a purchase will not cost that much. Ask someone to make a lifestyle change, a change of address or a grade level/subject change and the response is much more daunting. Face it, there are not many among us that like change. A little here or there can help make time move along but overall, we like things to be the same but it is this change that allows us to be amazing.

Today, with twenty-first century learning and the rapid pace of technology growth, education is changing. The way we learned, the way we were taught is rapidly evolving into something different. We have a chance to be a part of that. Superintendent John Carver is quoted in the book The Innovator's Mindset, that we are at a "printing press" moment in history. When you think about that, that is huge! The printing press forever changed the way we view the printed word. To some, it is the single most important invention of mankind. To be a part of this kind of a moment is incredible. To be able to change what we do, to evolve how we teach our students, to make them understand the potential power of their learning is a great responsibility we all need to be a part of.